Bernie Sanders says he would support primary challengers to Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema if they

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

continue to oppose scrapping filibuster

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont opened the door on Tuesday to support primary challengers to Democratic Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin when both come up for reelection in 2024.

Speaking with reporters ahead of a caucus meeting, Sanders said the stakes for changing the Senate filibuster rules — which require 60 votes to end debate and thus currently gives Senate Republicans the power to block major pieces of legislation — are high.

"What's at stake is the future of American democracy," said Sanders. "And the fact that all over this country, Republican governors and legislators are moving aggressively to suppress the vote and to impose extreme gerrymandering, among many other things."

"Anybody who believes in American democracy has got to vote to enable us to go forward with 50 votes to suspend the filibuster, at least on this vote," he added.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/bernie-sanders-says-he-would-support-primary-challengers-to-joe-manchin-and-kyrsten-sinema-if-they-continue-to-oppose-scrapping-filibuster/ar-AASUvtK

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. This is why Bernie is one of the de facto leaders of the Democratic Party.

[iemanja]

13. Because he's taking action that will result in giving WV to the Republicans?

He needs to stay about of WV politics. Manchin is a pain, but he's probably the only Democrat who can win there.

[George II]

27. WHAT? How do you come up with that, because he's going to support primary challengers vs....

...incumbent DEMOCRATS?

I don't understand, can you explain please?

Thanks.

[betsuni]

34. Why would a Democratic Party leader say "in too many ways the Democratic Party has

turned its back on the working class"? He'd be talking about himself.

[former9thward]

2. There was a Sanders' supporter in the primary against Sinema last time.

They were wiped out by Sinema 81% to 19%. Different next time? Not from the Sanders's side.

[madaboutharry]

3. He did not say the challenger needed to be like him.

Rather I am certain he is thinking a democratic candidate who could win.

[former9thward]

4. So he can take credit if they win?

Even though they oppose his views? Ok...

[onecaliberal]

9. So America can KEEP democracy!

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Is Gallegos a Sanders supporter? He's got the best shot to unseat Sinema IMO. Nt

[former9thward]

8. Many in AZ don't think he can win a statewide race.

Would he give up a safe House seat to take a iffy chance on a Senate seat? I don't know.

[wackadoo wabbit]

11. It appears you're not familiar with Arizona politics

Here, let me give you some information:

Sinema's challenger in 2018 was Deedra Abboud, a Muslim woman who wears a hijab (this might make her an iffy candidate in blue states; it was over-the-top difficult in a newly emerging purple state like Arizona). Abboud was/is very much an independent, who was outside the Democratic party's confines. Besides finance issues, she also didn't get endorsements from some of the major players — Planned Parenthood, EMILY’s List, and the Human Rights Campaign — that Sinema did, perhaps because Sinema seemed like a better bet for Arizona. So Abboud's was very, very much an uphill battle.

It's disgusting but true: someone with better "optics" (i.e., who wasn't wearing a hijab) who was also a party player, despite being on the left, would have had a much, much better chance against Sinema.

[former9thward]

12. You left out she was a Sanders supporter.

[wackadoo wabbit]

21. I didn't "leave it out," as I was only including things that worked against her /nt

[George II]

28. Same thing in West Virginia - he supported Swearengin who lost 70-30. And she's now left the Party.

She decided to become a full-blown "Peoples Party" candidate.

[Emile]

31. Did she run as a conservative?

[The Magistrate]

5. Mere Noise, Sir

Manchin would welcome a Sanders-endorsed rival, and the party regulars will primary Sinema themselves, with a suitable local candidate.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

41. A primary against a Sanders' endorsed candidate could help Manchin

[LENNY0229]

6. Anyone who thinks a progressive can win in WV is high on bad dope. ANY other Dem will lose badly.

[JohnSJ]

10. +++

[madville]

18. I think Manchin is retiring after his current term anyway

I don’t think he can win his next election against a Republican regardless of what happens this year or going forward.

[TheFarseer]

26. Why couldn't an economic populist win in WV?

Do people there really like paying more for prescription drugs and low wages? Do they like healthcare related bankruptcies? Do they like jobs going overseas and corporate mergers that eliminate their job? Do they like not being able to afford college for their kids or crushing student loans if they try for higher education? Do they like paying a higher real tax rate than millionaires and billionaires? That never made any sense to me but somehow it’s conventional wisdom!

[George II]

30. One fitting your very description ran against Manchin in the Democratic Primary in 2018....

She lost to Manchin 70-30 and now is no longer a Democrat.

[TheFarseer]

33. It's kind of tough

To unseat an incumbent Senator as a person that has never held any political office. I don’t know much about that campaign so I wouldn’t want to comment on it specifically.

[lagomorph777]

36. +1000 Manchin's actual positions are extremely unpopular in WV, according to polls.

He wins only because the alternative is even worse.

[Emile]

32. I do! Manchin will never win reelection. Primary his ass and if what you say is true Manchin

will go and win reelection. What do you have to fear if your so damn sure?

[iemanja]

14. I think a viable candidate against Sinema is a possibility

but not against Manchin. And no way a Bernie style progressive can win either of those seats. People need to stick to the politics they know and quit trying to disrupt red/purple states.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin .

[Tribetime]

16. 👍

[madville]

19. Manchin only won in 2018 by 3%

I don’t think he can win again against a Republican in 2024 no matter what happens with all this, so a primary challenger is kind of moot and would have even less of a chance.

[Staph]

20. Bernie doesn't know anything about politics in West Virginia.

For the foreseeable future, Joe Manchin is the only Democrat that can be elected at a state-wide level. We are working on getting more progressive candidates elected, but you don't start at US senator. You start at city council and WV house of delegates.

If Bernie really wants to solve the problem that is Joe Manchin, then he needs to go to Pennsylvania and Florida and Ohio and Wisconsin and North Carolina and help Democratic candidates capture those seats. Or go to Arizona and Georgia and Nevada and make sure that the current Democratic senators hold those seats. But that doesn't let Bernie be Bernie.

[Emile]

39. Sigh. . .

So sad.

[sheshe2]

22. +++

[W_HAMILTON]

23. They would probably relish it.

Sanders isn't even a kingmaker in the bluest of blue areas; what makes him think he would be in a purple/red state?

[DFW]

24. Hallucinogens?

No other rational explanation comes to mind.

[betsuni]

25. Belief that Trump voters are secretly democratic socialists just waiting for

populist progressive candidates to vote for.

[George II]

29. His "influence" on the Democratic Party is waning. Incidentally, there were about a dozen....

....Democratic Senators on the floor of the Senate last night saying basically what he told to reporters. He wasn't one of them.

His job is in the Senate, not Arizona or West Virginia.

[Emile]

35. Manchin has been sabotaging President Biden and our right to vote, what's amazing is

how many on DU support Manchin!

[lagomorph777]

37. It's very disappointing.

I expect better from our fellow DUers.

[Emile]

38. No kidding

[LetMyPeopleVote]

40. This was tried earlier and failed

Link to tweet

Sanders is not that popular in West Virginia

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

42. Correct! The actual amount of influence he has in WV is greatly over-estimated and exaggerated.

[George II]

43. Swearengin finished behind Manchin in 2018 in the Democratic Primary, 70% to 30%, then tried again..

....in 2020. She barely won her primary against two Democratic unknowns (38% to 33% to 29%) and lost to Capito in the General Election by 70% to 27%.

In 2021 she left the Democratic Party and if she runs again in 2024 will do so as a candidate for the People's Party.

Swearengin lost the 2020 election to Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito by more than 40 percentage points, and the 2018 primary to incumbent Joe Manchin. She left the Democratic party in 2021 and joined the Movement for a People’s Party.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Jean_Swearengin

[betsuni]

44. +1